Communalism in India: Evolution, Instances & Its Impact

Table of contents

Communalism in South Asia, rooted in the colonial legacy and the partition of 1947, continues to fuel religious conflicts and political instability. While India has largely managed communal tensions through constitutional safeguards and an independent judiciary, neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh have witnessed systemic persecution of religious minorities. For sustained regional growth, leaders must reject communalism and promote inclusive governance.

About Communalism

Communalism, as a socio-political phenomenon, emerges when religious identities are not just markers of faith but are used as tools for political mobilisation, fostering divisions in society. It breeds an ‘us vs. them‘ mentality, where communities perceive each other as adversaries rather than coexisting.
According to T.K. Oommen, communalism is “the transformation of religious distinctions into political antagonisms, reinforcing the perception of ‘We alone are right’ and ‘Others are outsiders or adversaries.”

Understanding Communalism – Causes, Forms and Impact

Ideology of Division: Communalism perceives society as a collection of rigid religious communities with conflicting interests, fostering an “us vs. them” mindset that fuels distrust and sectarianism.
Spectrum of Communalism: It ranges from mild alignment based on shared interests to extreme hos-tility, where religious groups perceive each other as threats, leading to political polarisation and vio-lence.
Religious Supremacy: At its peak, communalism prioritises religious identity over democratic and na-tional values, fostering intolerance, orthodoxy, and exclusionary politics.
Political Weaponisation: Communalism is often exploited for electoral gains, where political actors manipulate religious sentiments to consolidate vote banks, leading to deep societal divisions.
Impact on Social Harmony: It weakens secularism, interfaith cooperation, and national integration, fos-tering mistrust, riots, and long-term societal instability.
Role of Media and Propaganda: Hate speech, misinformation, and selective narratives further fuel communal tensions, making conflict resolution more challenging.

Types of Communalism

Assimilationist: Seeks to integrate minority religions into the dominant religion’s customs, often leading to loss of distinct identity. E.g., Uniform Civil Code (UCC) debates aiming to bring all religious communities under a common legal framework.
Welfarist: Focuses on welfare schemes for specific religious communities, sometimes reinforcing sectarian identities. E.g., Minority scholarships, Waqf boards for Muslims, and Sikh educational trusts.
Retreatist: Encourages withdrawal from mainstream political and social participation due to religious beliefs, limiting representation. E.g., the Baha’i faith discourages involvement in party politics; certain sects of Jainism advocate detachment from governance.
Retaliatory: Arises from mutual hostility, leading to violent confrontations and cycles of revenge between communities. E.g., Post-Godhra riots (2002); Anti-Sikh riots (1984).
Separatist: Seeks a separate religious-based state or regional autonomy, challenging national unity. E.g., Sikh state demand 1953; the Jammu & Kashmir autonomy demand.
Secessionist: The most extreme form, advocating complete separation from the nation, often through violent means. E.g., the Khalistan movement; and Bangladesh’s separation from Pakistan (1971).

Communalism in India: Evolution

Colonial Policies and Divide and Rule: The British deepened religious divisions through policies like separate electorates (Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909), leading to the institutionalisation of communal identities.
Partition of Bengal (1905): Lord Curzon’s decision to divide Bengal into Hindu-majority West and Muslim-majority East led to widespread protests, eventually resulting in its reversal in 1911.
Communal Award (1932): Announced by British PM Ramsay MacDonald, it granted separate electorates to minorities & depressed classes, leading to Poona Pact (1932) between Gandhi & Ambedkar.
Rise of Communal Organizations: The Muslim League (1906) demanded a separate Muslim nation (Pakistan Resolution, 1940), while Hindu Mahasabha (1915) & RSS (1925) sought Hindu consolidation.
Partition and Its Aftermath (1947): The creation of India and Pakistan led to over a million deaths and the displacement of 15 million people, marking one of the largest mass migrations in history.
Post-Independence Communalism: Political and religious events like the Shah Bano case (1985), the Babri Masjid demolition (1992), and the Gujarat riots (2002) deepened communal divides, influencing electoral politics and policy decisions.

Major Instances of Communalism in India

Impact of Communalism in India

Erosion of Law and Order: Communal tensions often escalate into violence, burdening law enforcement and the judiciary. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB, 2021) recorded 378 cases of communal riots, impacting over 500 victims across India.
Violation of Fundamental Rights: Communal violence disproportionately affects marginalised groups, leading to mass killings, displacement, and destruction of property, violating the Right to Life (Article 21) and Freedom of Religion (Article 25).
Fractured Social Fabric: Religious polarisation fosters distrust, weakening India’s pluralistic identity. A Pew Research Center survey (2023) found that only 42% of Indians trust people from other religions.
Economic Disruptions: Communal unrest damages infrastructure, disrupts businesses, and deters investments. Global Peace Index 2022 estimated that violence costs India nearly 6% of its GDP annually.
Obstruction to National Development: Persistent communal conflicts divert government resources away from education, healthcare, and infrastructure, stalling inclusive development and social progress.
Global Reputation at Stake: Recurrent incidents of communal violence affect India’s standing in global human rights forums. The USCIRF, 2023 has flagged India for increasing religious intolerance, impacting international relations.

Way Forward: Addressing Communalism in India

Strict Enforcement of Constitutional Provisions: Uphold Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, and 25-28 to ensure equality, religious freedom, and secular governance, preventing discrimination and communal favoritism.
Strengthening Anti-Communal Laws & Judicial Oversight: Enact a comprehensive anti-communal violence law with fast-track courts and strict penalties to deter hate crimes and ensure swift justice.
Curbing Hate Speech & Misinformation: Regulate social media and mainstream media under IT Rules 2021 to prevent the spread of communal propaganda, fake news, and inflammatory content.
Political Accountability & Electoral Reforms: Enforce the Representation of the People Act, 1951, disqualifying candidates who exploit religion for votes, and impose stricter penalties for communal rhetoric in public discourse.
Inclusive Education & Social Awareness: Integrate constitutional values, interfaith harmony, and civic education in school curricula to counter radicalization and foster tolerance from an early age.
Strengthening Law Enforcement & Governance: Implement police reforms to ensure impartial handling of communal violence and encourage diversity in law enforcement agencies to eliminate bias.
National Integration & Community Engagement: Expand initiatives like Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and strengthen local governance bodies (Panchayats, urban local bodies) to promote interfaith dialogue and cultural unity.

As Jawaharlal Nehru said, “We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or action.” Strengthening constitutional safeguards, social harmony, and political accountability is key to eradicating communalism and preserving India’s pluralistic identity.

Reference: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains PYQs – Theme – Communalism

[UPSC 2018] ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.
[UPSC 2017] Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.
[UPSC 2017] The Indian Constitution has provisions for maintaining religious harmony. How do these provisions help in tackling communalism?
[UPSC 2016-Case Study] You are posted as District Magistrate in a communally sensitive area. A riot has broken out between two religious communities. What steps will you take to control the situation while ensuring justice and fairness?
[UPSC 2014] Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 78

Q. Examine the impact of communalism in South Asia, with a focus on India’s constitutional safeguards and challenges in neighbouring countries. Suggest measures for regional harmony. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Briefly Introduce the answer by defining communalism in South Asia.
Body: Discuss the impact of communalism in South Asia and India’s safeguards to counter communalism. Also, discuss briefly the challenges faced by India’s neighbouring countries.
Conclusion: Write a way forward and conclude appropriately by highlighting a balanced approach.